Drinking glass with cushioning base

ABSTRACT

A drinking glass includes a glass member with a ring-shaped indentation and a bowl-shaped base member, including a base bottom with a dampening structure, base sidewalls, with a ring-shaped protrusion such that the ring-shaped protrusion snaps into the ring-shaped indentation, such that the base member is removably attachable to the glass member. The base member can be made from a rubber material, including silicone rubber. Also claimed is a drinking glass system, including: different glass members and a base member, which is attachable to any one of the different glass members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design ApplicationNo. 29/610,564, filed Jul. 13, 2017; which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of drinkingglasses, and more particularly to methods and systems for glasses with acushioning base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drinking glasses made of glass are ubiquitous and are made in a widevariety of styles and shapes, for both everyday and formal use. Drinkcoasters are often used to protect a table surface from scratching andcondensation.

However, it is not always convenient or desirable to use drink coasters,and users may therefore at times risk impacting a table too hard whenplacing a drinking glass thereon, potentially causing damage to thetable.

As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that therecontinues to be a need for novel and improved designs for drinkingglasses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the presentinvention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements areprovided to the existing model of drinking glasses.

In an aspect, a drinking glass, can include:

-   -   a) a glass member, which comprises an interior configured to        contain a beverage; and    -   b) a base member;    -   such that the base member is connected to a bottom portion of        the glass member;    -   wherein the base member has a flat bottom, such that the        drinking glass is configured to be positionable on a flat        surface, such that the base member is stably positioned on the        flat surface.

In a related aspect, the glass member can have a ring-shapedindentation, which is positioned around an outer periphery of an upperpart of the bottom portion; and wherein the base member comprises aring-shaped protrusion that protrudes inward in an inner periphery of anupper part of the base member; such that the ring-shaped indentation isconfigured to match with the ring-shaped protrusion, such that thering-shaped protrusion is configured to snap into the ring-shapedindentation, such that the base member is removably attachable to theglass member.

In another related aspect, the base member is bowl-shaped and comprisesa base bottom and a base sidewall, which encircles a periphery of thebase bottom, such that the bottom portion of the glass member fits intoan inside of the base member.

In yet a related aspect, the base bottom can include a dampeningstructure, which protrudes upwards on an inner side of the base bottom,such that the dampening structure functions as a dampener, which isconfigured to deform when the drinking glass is positioned on the flatsurface.

In a related aspect, the dampening structure can be configured as aconvex uniform tiling.

In a related aspect, the convex uniform tiling can be a hexagonaltiling.

In a related aspect, the dampening structure can be configured asparallel raised walls.

In another related aspect, the base member can be made of a rubbermaterial.

In another related aspect, the rubber material can be a silicone rubber.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodimentsof the invention that will be described below and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments inaddition to those described and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseologyand terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking glass with a base member,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a drinking glass with a base member,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a drinking glass with a base member,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a side view of a drinking glass with a base member, accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the drinking glass of FIG. 3A,taken along section line 3B-3B of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a glass member, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a glass member, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a glass member, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a glass member, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the glass member of FIG. 5A, takenalong section line 5B-5B of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a base member, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6B is a side view of a base member, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the base member of FIG. 6B, takenalong section line 6C-6C of FIG. 6B.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drinking glass system, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a base member, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed thatthe present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obviouscombination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure thedisclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilledin the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presentedwith lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe ingreater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding theinvention.

The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to thestructure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplaryconstructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory andillustrative rather than exhaustive.

In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of adrinking glass 100 with reference to FIG. 1, in such manner that likereference numerals refer to like components throughout; a conventionthat we shall employ for the remainder of this specification.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a drinking glass 100 can include:

-   -   a) a glass member 110, which comprises an interior 112        configured to contain a beverage 113; and    -   b) a base member 120;    -   wherein the base member 120 is connected/attached to a bottom        portion of the glass member 110;    -   wherein the base member has a flat bottom 328, as shown in FIGS.        3 such that the drinking glass 100 can be positioned on a flat        surface 150, such that the base member 120 rests/can be stably        positioned on the flat surface 150.

In a related embodiment, the base member 120 can be removably attachedto the bottom portion of the glass member 110;

In related embodiments, FIGS. 2A and 2B, shows alternative sizes andshapes for drinking glasses 200 a 200 b. FIG. 3A shows a side view ofthe drinking glass 200 a shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3B, shows across-sectional view of the drinking glass 200 a taken along sectionline 3B-3B of FIG. 3A.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3B, 5A, and 6C, the glassmember 210 a and the base member 120 can be configured with interlockingportions 319 329, such that the interlocking portions 319 329 areconfigured to snap together, such that the base member 120 can beremovably/detachably attached to the glass member 210 a. Theinterlocking portions 319 329 can including first and secondinterlocking portions 319 329 of respectively the glass member 210 a andthe base member 120.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3B, 5A, and 6C, the glassmember 210 a can be configured with a ring-shaped indentation 319, whichis positioned around an outer periphery of an upper part of the bottomportion, which ring-shaped indentation 319 is configured to match with aring-shaped protrusion 329 that protrudes inward in an inner peripheryof an upper part of the base member 120, such that the ring-shapedprotrusion is configured to snap into the ring-shaped indentation, suchthat the base member 120 is removably/detachably attached to the glassmember 210 a. Alternatively, the glass member 210 a can be configuredwith a ring-shaped protrusion and the base member 120 can be configuredwith a ring-shaped indentation, such that the ring-shaped protrusion isconfigured to snap into the ring-shaped indentation, such that the basemember 120 can be removably/detachably attached to the glass member 210a.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, show perspective views of the glass members 210 a210 b 110 of the glasses 200 a 200 b 100, shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 1,respectively.

In a related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the base member120 can be bowl-shaped, comprising a base bottom 622 and a base sidewall626, encircling a periphery of the base bottom 622, such that the bottomportion of the glass member 110 fits into an inside 628 (also calledinterior 628) of the base member 120.

In a further related embodiment, the base bottom 622 can include araised pattern 623, also referred to as a dampening structure 623, whichprotrudes upwards on an inner side of the base bottom 622, such thatthat the dampening structure 623 functions as a dampener (which can alsobe described as a cushion), which can deform slightly when the drinkingglass 100 is positioned on a flat surface 150, such as a table 150. Thedampening structure 623 may be directly adjacent to or in contact with abottom of the glass member 110. Alternatively, there may be a gapbetween the dampening structure 623 and the bottom of the glass member110. The dampening structure 623 can be an integral part of the basebottom 622, or alternatively the base bottom 622 can comprise a bottomportion and a dampening structure 623, such that the dampening structureis positioned on and connected to a top of the bottom portion.

In yet further related embodiments, the dampening structure 623 can beconfigured in with a repeating pattern 623 or regular tiling 623, suchas a repeating pattern 623 of regular n-polygons, including a hexagonalraised pattern 623, as shown in FIG. 6A, square tiling, etc. In general,a raised pattern 623 can be configured as the edges of a convex uniformtiling 623. Other raised patterns 623 can have various shapes, such aslinear, i.e. composed of parallel raised walls/lines 823, such that thedampening structure 623 is configured as parallel raised walls 823, asshown in FIG. 8, showing a base member 820 with a base bottom 822 withparallel raised walls 823.

In a further related embodiment, the base bottom 622 can be made of arubber material, including natural rubber and elastomers, includingsilicone rubber.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a drinking glass system 700, caninclude:

-   -   a) a plurality of glass members 210 a 210 b 110, such as at        least two glass members 210 a 210 b 110;    -   wherein each glass member 210 a 210 b 110 can be different other        glass members 210 a 210 b 110 in the plurality of glass members        210 a 210 b 110, such as of different size, shape, and/or color;    -   wherein each bottom portion of bottom portions of the plurality        of glass members 210 a 210 b 110 is similar; and    -   b) at least one base member 720, which is configured to be        attachable to each bottom portion of the glass members 210 a 210        b 110 in the plurality of glass members 210 a 210 b 110. The        base member 720 is here shown attached to the glass member 210 b        to form a drinking glass 200 b. The base member can be        detached/removed from the glass member 210 b and instead        attached to either glass member 210 a or glass member 110.

Here has thus been described a multitude of embodiments of the drinkingglass 100, the drinking glass system 700, and methods related thereto,which can be employed in numerous modes of usage.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent and should beconsidered fully included in this specification and the claims appendedhereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limitedto the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, andthus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drinking glass, comprising: a) a glass member,which comprises an interior configured to contain a beverage; and b) abase member; wherein the base member is connected to a bottom portion ofthe glass member; wherein the base member has a flat bottom, such thatthe drinking glass is configured to be positionable on a flat surface,such that the base member is stably positioned on the flat surface. 2.The drinking glass of claim 1, wherein the glass member and the basemember are configured with interlocking portions, such that theinterlocking portions are configured to snap together, such that thebase member is removably attached to the glass member.
 3. The drinkingglass of claim 2, wherein the glass member is configured with aring-shaped indentation, which is positioned around an outer peripheryof an upper part of the bottom portion; and wherein the base membercomprises a ring-shaped protrusion that protrudes inward in an innerperiphery of an upper part of the base member; such that the ring-shapedindentation is configured to match with the ring-shaped protrusion, suchthat the ring-shaped protrusion is configured to snap into thering-shaped indentation, such that the base member is removably attachedto the glass member.
 4. The drinking glass of claim 1, wherein the basemember is bowl-shaped and comprises a base bottom and a base sidewall,which encircles a periphery of the base bottom, such that the bottomportion of the glass member fits into an inside of the base member. 5.The drinking glass of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a basebottom, wherein the base bottom comprises a dampening structure, whichprotrudes upwards on an inner side of the base bottom, such that thedampening structure functions as a dampener, which is configured todeform when the drinking glass is positioned on the flat surface.
 6. Thedrinking glass of claim 5, wherein the dampening structure is configuredas edges of a convex uniform tiling.
 7. The drinking glass of claim 6,wherein the convex uniform tiling is a hexagonal tiling.
 8. The drinkingglass of claim 5, wherein the dampening structure is configured asparallel raised walls.
 9. The drinking glass of claim 1, wherein thebase member is made of a rubber material.
 10. The drinking glass ofclaim 9, wherein the rubber material is a silicone rubber.
 11. Adrinking glass system, comprising: a) a plurality of glass members,wherein each bottom portion of bottom portions of the plurality of glassmembers is similar; and b) at least one base member, which is configuredto be attachable to each bottom portion of the glass members in theplurality of glass members; wherein each bottom portion of the glassmembers is configured to receive the base member; wherein the basemember has a flat bottom, such that a drinking glass comprised of aglass member in the plurality of glass members with the at least onebase member attached is configured to be positionable on a flat surface,such that the base member is stably positioned on the flat surface. 12.The drinking glass system of claim 11, wherein each glass member isdifferent than other glass members in the plurality of glass members.13. The drinking glass system of claim 11, wherein each glass member inthe plurality of glass members is configured with a ring-shapedindentation, which is positioned around an outer periphery of an upperpart of the bottom portion; and wherein the at least one base membercomprises a ring-shaped protrusion that protrudes inward in an innerperiphery of an upper part of the base member; such that the ring-shapedindentation is configured to match with the ring-shaped protrusion, suchthat the ring-shaped protrusion is configured to snap into thering-shaped indentation, such that the at least one base member isremovably attachable to each glass member in the plurality of glassmembers.
 14. The drinking glass system of claim 11, wherein the at leastone base member is bowl-shaped and comprises a base bottom and a basesidewall, which encircles a periphery of the base bottom, such that thebottom portion of each glass member plurality of glass members fits intoan inside of the base member.
 15. The drinking glass system of claim 14,wherein the base bottom comprises a dampening structure, which protrudesupwards on an inner side of the base bottom, such that the dampeningstructure functions as a dampener, which is configured to deform whenthe drinking glass is positioned on the flat surface.
 16. The drinkingglass system of claim 15, wherein the dampening structure is configuredas edges of a convex uniform tiling.
 17. The drinking glass system ofclaim 16, wherein the convex uniform tiling is a hexagonal tiling. 18.The drinking glass system of claim 15, wherein the dampening structureis configured as parallel raised walls.
 19. The drinking glass system ofclaim 11, wherein the base member is made of a rubber material.
 20. Thedrinking glass system of claim 19, wherein the rubber material is asilicone rubber.